University of Alabama-Huntsville Elite Camp Standouts (082023)
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Coach John Shulman and his staff continued their elite camp series, and another one was well attended. Here are a few players that stood out to me… Adam Barksdale Adam Barksdale 6'4" | PG Vestavia Hills | 2025 State AL…
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Continue ReadingCoach John Shulman and his staff continued their elite camp series, and another one was well attended. Here are a few players that stood out to me…
Adam Barksdale Adam Barksdale 6'4" | PG Vestavia Hills | 2025 State AL (6’5/PG/’25/Vestavia Hills HS)
Instagram: Adam.barksdale_13
Twitter: @barksdale_adam
I have a lot of ink on Adam, and he continues to follow the script, which he has settled into. He is an entirely different player when playing during the spring and summer compared to when he is on his high school team. He shot the ball extremely well at camp and was looking for his offense early. He was producing at all levels, and his technique and arch on his shot have really gotten better. He is a big guard that showed his ability to rise up over smaller defenders and shoot over the top. He is very comfortable with the ball in his hands, and with the freedom that he had at camp, he really showed the tools that are in the toolkit. As we look toward the high school season, I just wonder if he will be the 3&D guy or if he will be able to utilize the skillset that he shows when he is not at his school.
Rashad Bryant Rashad Bryant 6'6" | PF Shades Valley | 2025 State AL (6’7/G|F/’25/Shades Valley HS)
Instagram: Etshadxo
Twitter: @RashadBryant_
Rashad started out slow to me, as I have very high expectations when it comes to him. He is a player that the UAH coaching staff was eager to put eyes on, and what they were looking to see, they finally got a chance to witness in the 5v5 games. The athleticism, coupled with the length, points to a lot of promise surrounding Rashad. He was slamming home offensive misses, getting to the rack off the bounce, raising up and scoring over smaller defenders, making it tough for ball-handlers on D, and basically impacting the game with his extreme versatility. With the freedom to handle the ball from the perimeter and operate out of the mid-post, with face-ups and attacks to the basket and pull-ups from midrange, Rashad showed he can produce at a high level. His stock rose in the sight of the coaches in attendance as you saw pens writing as he showed time and time again high-level athleticism while impacting the game all over the court.
Mason Brown (6’0/CG/’24/Central Magnet HS)
Instagram: Mason.brown05
Twitter: @MasonBrown05
Mason is preparing for his senior season, and he showed that he is ready to make his final season the best one ever. He is a reliable guard that can play on and off the ball. He was impressive off the bounce, as he had a brilliant floor game and did a great job setting the table for his teammates. He has excellent vision and passing skills and was often spraying on-time and on-target passes to teammates who were locked and loaded around the arc. As I mentioned, he plays on and off the ball, but honing in at the lead guard spot will be vital as he seeks to get to the next level. His ability to orchestrate and command a team will be integral to garnering attention from the next level. There is not much that Mason has to alter to get into the flow of being a floor general, as he already has the skillset and the IQ to be the coach on the floor. He is a player that I will be following throughout his senior campaign.
Lawson Pippins Lawson Pippins 6'3" | SF Madison Academy | 2024 State AL (6’3/SF/’24/Madison Academy)
Instagram: lawsonpippins
Lawson had a solid camp and showed why he is ranked in the top 20 in the state in the 2024 class. He is a player that can score the rock at all levels, and he does it all at his pace. He was rarely out of control as he put together some brilliant one on one moves on the offensive end of the floor. He is a wing player that plays well and produces with the ball in his hands. He is a tough iso scorer and understands how to pick his iso opportunities without forcing the action during a given possession. Lawson is going to have eye-popping numbers throughout his senior campaign as he is a potent scorer, a capable rebounder, and a solid playmaker. Look for Lawson to build upon his play at camp as he sets his sights on his final high school season.
Tierren Thomas (6’0/SG/’24/Calera HS)
Tierren was one of the most vocal players throughout the day. Whether he was on the court or off, he demonstrated leadership capabilities which is a good sign for a player getting ready for his senior campaign. He was tough off the bounce, constantly looking to create off the dribble. He played off two feet in the paint, which helped him to score in traffic. He is a downhill attacking guard that played with a lot of intensity and passion and had a good day scoring and creating scoring opportunities for teammates. Tierren is a two-way player that did an excellent job pestering ball handlers full-court and shutting down passing lanes on the defensive end of the floor.
Carter Johnson Carter Johnson 6'8" | PF White Plains | 2024 State AL (6’8/PF/’24/White Plains HS)
Instagram: johnson.carter33
Twitter: @johnscarter33
Carter has good positional size and showed a lot of versatility in his game. He was very impressive, scoring inside and out. He showed some good footwork as he operated off the low block. He slashed through defenses, showing his ability to put the rock on the floor while out on the perimeter. One of the most impressive things about Carter’s game is his ability to stretch the floor with the trey ball. As I mentioned, he showed a lot of versatility on the offensive end of the floor, but on defense, he was a formidable interior presence. He was dominant on the glass and protected the rim with his shot-blocking ability. With his play at camp, his stock took a jump upward.